RALEIGH, NC – A North Carolina man has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of murdering his mother and assaulting his father in a brutal attack that he attributed to drug influence and lack of sleep.
A jury found Christopher McCullough guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his 75-year-old mother, Mary McCullough. The verdict was delivered following a seven-hour deliberation period. However, he was acquitted of charges related to the attempted murder of his father and the larceny of a dog.
John McCullough, the defendant’s father, took the witness stand against his son, painting a picture of a troubled family history. He described his son as demonstrating violence and “superhuman-like strength” from a young age. Efforts to manage Christopher’s behavior included boarding school and mental health facilities, yet they proved ineffective, leading to a domestic violence injunction that barred Christopher from entering his parents’ home.
Christopher disregarded this order on August 8, 2023. In court, he admitted to being high on drugs, including Adderall, and sleep-deprived for six days. He came to his parents’ home seeking money for gas. After his parents refused, he assaulted his father, all witnessed by his four-year-old son. Despite denying harm to his mother, who was frail and reliant on oxygen, the prosecution presented a stark narrative of the events.
Officers testified to the brutal scene they encountered. Mary McCullough found unconscious, bore injuries that eventually led to her death nearly a week later. Blood evidence and her dying words to the officers pointed directly to her son as the assailant.
The scene left Christopher’s son traumatized. The child’s therapist shared in court his memories of the incident, including witnessing his grandmother being repeatedly attacked.
Defense attorney Ricky Elmore argued that Christopher’s actions were unintentional, blaming the circumstances on a fight-or-flight response during an argument over gas money. Nevertheless, the prosecution emphasized that love for his mother should have prevented such a violent outburst.
The jury’s decision concluded that whatever the circumstances, the savagery of the acts committed by Christopher McCullough was inexcusable. The court’s sentence ensures he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars with no possibility of parole.